Wednesday, June 6, 2007 - 3:45 PM
307

Service Learning and Stream Restoration in Colorado Watersheds

Karen Cozzetto1, Diane McKnight1, Sabre Duren2, Jeff Wong3, Ed Self4, and Laura Backus4. (1) INSTARR, University of Colorado - Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, (2) Brown and Caldwell, Golden, CO 80401, (3) Cameron-Cole, Boulder, CO 80301, (4) Wildland Restoration Volunteers, Boulder, CO 80301

Service learning combines traditional classroom curriculum with real-world, service-oriented projects, providing students with a richer learning experience and strengthening communities.  Since 1997, students at the University of Colorado-Boulder (CU) have participated in several stream restoration-related service learning projects.  Students have worked with the Snake River Task Force on hyporheic zone investigations to address the remediation of an acid mine drainage (AMD)-impacted river that is representative of the over 3000 km of AMD-impacted streams in Colorado.  The task force consists of a diverse group of stakeholders, including federal, state, and county agencies as well as ski resorts.  Student field studies have identified a previously unknown source of metals and acidity to a tributary of the Snake River and have demonstrated that the hyporheic zone is more important in controlling metal concentrations during non-drought years.  In 2006, CU students started working with a non-profit group, Wildland Restoration Volunteers (WRV) on the development of monitoring plans and training for stream/riparian area restorations.  Monitoring is now required by various potential funding agencies for restoration projects, and the student-developed plans could aid WRV in obtaining project support.   Implementation of the plans will allow for improvement in restoration techniques.

See more of Special Session - Stream Restoration: Tools for Prioritization, Design and Assessment II
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See more of The NABS 55th Annual Meeting